What Is the Way of the Holy Grail?
The Way of the Holy Grail is a cultural project that connects the Pyrenees in Huesca with the Cathedral of Valencia, where the cup traditionally identified as the Holy Grail is kept. It is spearheaded by Dr. Ana Mafé, author of the book *The Holy Grail: A Study Revealing the Location of the Cup from the Last Supper*, through the Cultural Association *El Camino del Santo Grial* and the International Association *El Camino del Santo Grial de Europa*, founded in 2022 in Massamagrell. The project aims to become a European Cultural Route recognized by the Council of Europe, following the model of the Camino de Santiago.
From Jerusalem to Valencia: The Story Told by the Relic
According to tradition, the chalice left Jerusalem with Saint Peter and reached Rome, where it was used by the first popes. In the 3rd century, to protect it from persecution, Saint Lawrence sent it to Huesca, and from there its trail winds through the historical territory of Aragon, with stops such as San Juan de la Peña. In 1437, King Alfonso the Magnanimous ordered it to be transferred to the Royal Palace of Valencia, and that same year it was handed over to the Cathedral of Valencia, where it has remained ever since in the Chapel of the Holy Chalice.
The Route of the Grail: The Valencian Section, the Most Traveled
Within this broader project, the final section—the one that enters the Valencian Community on its way to the Cathedral—has its own name: the Route of the Grail. It spans just over 100 kilometers and is the section most frequently traveled on foot, by bike, or on horseback—and the one typically sought out by those who wish to complete it over a weekend or as part of an organized excursion. While “Camino del Santo Grial” refers to the entire project, from the Pyrenees to Valencia, “Ruta del Grial” is the specific name given to this final stretch in Valencia.
The towns it passes through
The Route of the Grail passes through, among others, the following towns: Barracas, Montanejos, Cirat, Caudiel, Jérica, Navajas, Altura, Segorbe, Soneja, Torres Torres, Algimia de Alfara, Estivella, Gilet, Sagunto, Puig de Santa Maria, Massamagrell, and Alboraya, before reaching the Cathedral of Valencia. It is an ideal route for teaching local history, geography, and the cultural heritage of the Valencian Community in the classroom, from elementary school through college.
Indiana Tours València, as an “Honorary Partner and Ambassador,” collaborates with the El Camino del Santo Grial Cultural Association.
The Holy Grail Cultural Association has the following objectives:
– To create and consolidate a land route between the Monastery of San Juan de la Peña and the Cathedral of Valencia, to be called “El Camino del Santo Grial.”
– To extol and publicize the history and symbolism of the Holy Chalice of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, which is venerated in the Valencia Cathedral.
– To maintain and preserve the continuity of this route in its cultural, recreational, religious, and sporting aspects.
Website of the Holy Grail Cultural Association
The international Holy Grail Trail traces the historic route that originates in Jerusalem, passes through Rome and Naples, and then crosses France. The section that can be traveled on foot, on horseback, or by bike begins in the Pyrenees, although it is also possible to start from other points by following ancient routes.
Experience the Story of the Holy Grail with Indiana Jones: Valencia, Peñíscola, and Gandia in 1808
In addition to this documented route, at Indiana Tours Valencia we tell our own story about the Holy Grail, set in a different time: 1808, when, fleeing Napoleon’s troops, the relic passed through Valencia, Peñíscola, and Gandia. This is the narrative thread that connects our tours in these three cities, and the reason why our very own Indiana Jones is also on the trail of the Holy Grail in each of them.
How we bring this story to students through a school field trip that blends culture and adventure
At Indiana Tours Valencia, we’ve turned this story into a school field trip and a group tour blending culture and adventure, with Jaco Müller bringing a real-life Indiana Jones to life. We operate in four destinations: Valencia, Peñíscola, Gandia, and Cullera, each with its own dramatized scavenger hunt, designed for students of all ages and for teachers. We have specific experience working with groups with physical and intellectual disabilities—a population we’ve specialized in since 2021—and our routes in Valencia and Gandia are 100% accessible, bearing PREDIF’s Accessible Tourism Seal.
Request the brochure for your destination
If you’d like to take your students or group to experience this story, request the brochure for the destination that interests you most. Email us at info@indianatoursvalencia.com or message us on WhatsApp at 626 217 327, and we’ll send you the brochure with all the information—no obligation. If you’d like, we can prepare a personalized quote for you.
We specialize in schools and groups with intellectual disabilities.
Group tours in Spanish, Valencian, English, and German.
The tours of Valencia and Gandia are 100% accessible.
